Senior PNA Team Lead – Inpatient Psychiatry

Texas Health and Human Services Commission; Terrell (TX); On-site; USD 46,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

Texas Health and Human Services Commission (TT HHS) Terrell Center for Youth seeks a Psychiatric Nursing Assistant IV Team Lead to supervise PNAs, coordinate daily activities, assist with recovery plans, and ensure safe, high-quality care in an inpatient setting.

This role reports under the licensed nurse, leads a PNA team, and participates in team meetings and crisis de-escalation, with opportunities for professional growth and disaster-response coverage as needed.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of patient aggression reduction interventions
• Knowledge of patient care techniques and of treatment, therapy, developmental, and patient centered recovery programs
• Knowledge of effective interpersonal and leadership skills and ability to interact with other team members utilizing effective interpersonal skills
• Skills in the use of computer and office equipment
• Ability to prepare and maintain records, files, and reports
• Ability to serve as a lead worker providing direction to others

Responsibilities

• Attends work on a regular basis and may be asked to work a specific shift schedule or, at times, even a rotating schedule, extended shift and/or overtime in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned
• As the team lead, coordinates assignments and specific duties for PNAs which include assisting the patient with activities of daily living, hygiene, and eating to promote independence and self-care
• Takes an active role in the implementation of the individualized recovery plans and offers consistent, ongoing support in assisting patients reaching their goals
• Uses therapeutic, person-centered communication skills in promptly and effectively engaging patients
• Accompanies patient to appointments as required
• Communicates effectively with other team members to promote a positive workplace
• Shares information with other PNAs so they understand their role in supporting the patient’s treatment
• Serves as a participant in the recovery team or admissions team
• Provides on-going collaborative verbal, and written communication concerning patients
• Instructs other PNAs on how to provide verbal and written communication concerning patient’s progress or lack thereof to their individualized goals
• Develops plans for treatment and instructs other PNAs on how to take an active role with patients’ recovery processes
• Uses basic computer skills and responds to questions from other PNAs on reporting procedures to communicate patient care information clearly and concisely in a timely manner
• The PNA IV Team Lead assists the licensed nurse and provides guidance to other PNAs in monitoring patients for medication administration or treatment, including taking and monitoring vital signs and performing other assigned tasks within competency level
• Proactively promotes safety through continuous environmental awareness and positive engagement of patients to minimize unsafe situations and injuries
• Promotes classes and programs offered and encourages patient participation. Co-facilitates groups as assigned or requested
• Models’ appropriate response in crisis or psychiatric emergency situations using the least restrictive intervention necessary by applying Treatment Intervention Protection Strategies (TIPS) including verbal de-escalation under the direct supervision of a RN to ensure the health and safety of all persons
• Performs the CPR/Heimlich techniques and use of an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) correctly and safely according to the specification of the American Heart Association
• Instructs other PNAs on how to provide the RN with timely, clinically relevant patient information (such as possible side effects of medication, disease/injury, or behavioral escalation gained by direct observation/interaction with patients to promote safety. Actively participates in shift change
• Provides objective and relevant information to the supervising RN on an ongoing basis concerning the work performance of assigned PNAs to support a more comprehensive performance evaluation and to assist in the identification of training and/or other performance improvement opportunities
• Serves as a preceptor (orientation and on-going training) for new employees including PNA Is, IIs, and other temporarily assigned personnel to the unit
• Performs other duties as assigned. Other duties as assigned include but are limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location

Job description

Texas Health and Human Services Commission (TT HHS) Terrell Center for Youth seeks a Psychiatric Nursing Assistant IV Team Lead to supervise PNAs, coordinate daily activities, assist with recovery plans, and ensure safe, high-quality care in an inpatient setting.

This role reports under the licensed nurse, leads a PNA team, and participates in team meetings and crisis de-escalation, with opportunities for professional growth and disaster-response coverage as needed.